Feed belt positioning assembly

ABSTRACT

An adjustment mechanism for use on a friction sheet feeding machine to permit selective lateral repositioning of one feed belt on the machine relative to at least one other feed belt on the machine.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/784,120, filed Mar. 20, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of friction sheet feeding machines are available forfeeding individual sheets from the bottom of an essentially verticalstack of sheets. Exemplary friction sheet feeding machines are shown anddescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,991,831, 5,143,365, 5,244,198, 5,642,877,5,772,199 and 6,932,338.

These machines typically include (i) a tray for holding a stack ofsheets in an essentially vertical position, (ii) a nip for feeding alowermost sheet from the stack, (iii) a driven friction roller or feedbelt for contacting the downward facing major surface of the lowermostsheet in the stack and pulling the lowermost sheet from underneath thesheet stack towards the nip, and (iv) a friction retard surfacepositioned above the driven friction roller for contacting the leadingedge(s) and any exposed upward facing major surface(s) of the sheet(s)positioned directly above the lowermost sheet for retarding advancementof the sheet(s) directly above the lowermost sheet and therebyfacilitating separation of the lowermost sheet from the immediatelyoverlying sheet prior to introduction of the lowermost sheet into thefeed nip.

Friction sheet feeding machines need to be sufficiently versatile tofeed sheets over a wide range of lengths and widths. In order toaccommodate the feeding of sheets over a wide range of widths, themachines typically employ a plurality of laterally spaced and laterallyadjustable feed belts. While generally effective for expanding theversatility of the machine, lateral adjustment of the conveyor beltstends to be awkward, cumbersome and potentially dangerous.

Accordingly, a need exists for a friction sheet feeding machine having aplurality of feed belts which may be quickly, easily and safelylaterally repositioned for accommodating the feeding of sheets over awide range of sheet widths.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention is a friction sheet feeding machine forfeeding individual sheets from a stack of sheets in a longitudinaldirection. The machine includes (i) a feed belt system, and (ii) anadjustment mechanism. The feed belt system includes a plurality oflaterally spaced feed belts for feeding individual sheets from a stackof sheets in a longitudinal direction. The adjustment mechanism iseffective for permitting selective lateral repositioning of at least oneof the feed belts relative to at least one other feed belt.

A second aspect of the invention is a method of laterally repositioningat least one feed belt on a friction sheet feeding machine having a feedbelt system for adjusting the effective width of the feed belt system.

A first embodiment of the second aspect of the invention comprises thesteps of (i) obtaining a friction sheet feeding machine for feedingindividual sheets from a stack of sheets in a longitudinal direction,comprising: (A) a feed belt system including a plurality of laterallyspaced feed belts for feeding individual sheets from a stack of sheetsin a longitudinal direction, and (B) an adjustment mechanism forpermitting selective lateral repositioning of at least one of the feedbelts relative to at least one other feed belt, and (ii) actuating theadjustment mechanism to laterally reposition at least one of the feedbelts relative to at least one other feed belt.

A second embodiment of the second aspect of the invention comprises thesteps of (i) obtaining a friction sheet feeding machine for feedingindividual sheets from a stack of sheets in a longitudinal direction,comprising: (A) a feed belt system including a plurality of laterallyspaced feed belts for feeding individual sheets from a stack of sheetsin a longitudinal direction, and (B) an adjustment mechanism forpermitting selective lateral repositioning of at least one of the feedbelts relative to at least one other feed belt, (ii) loading a stack ofsheets onto the machine, (iii) operating the machine to feed individualsheets from the stack of sheets loaded onto the machine, and (iv)actuating the adjustment mechanism to laterally reposition at least oneof the feed belts relative to at least one other feed belt while themachine is operating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Nomenclature

10 Friction Sheet Feeding Machine

10 r Right Side of Friction Sheet Feeding Machine

10 s Left Side of Friction Sheet Feeding Machine

20 Frame

21 r Right Side Panel

21 s Left Side Panel

26 Support Rod

30 Drive Assembly

40 Drive Belt

50 Friction Feed Roller

60 Friction Feed Belts (60 i, 60 r and 60 s)

60 i Intermediate Feed Belt

60 r Right Side Feed Belt or Outside Feed Belt

60 s Left Side Feed Belt or Outside Feed Belt

200 Lateral Spacing Adjustment Mechanism

210 Position Control Carriages or Carriages (210 i, 210 r and 210 s)

210 i Intermediate Carriage or Fixed Position Carriage

210 r Right Carriage or Repositionable Carriage

210 s Left Carriage or Repositionable Carriage

211 Guide Pins on Carriages

212 Sleeve over Guide Pins

215 Follower Pin

218 Lateral Bore Through Carriages (218 i, 218 r and 218 s)

218 i Lateral Bore Through Intermediate Carriage

218 r Lateral Bore Through Right Side Carriage

218 s Lateral Bore Through Left Side Carriage

219 Lateral Channel Along Bottom of Carriage

220 Guide Bar

220 r Right End of Guide Bar

220 s Left End of Guide Bar

221 Machine Screw

222 r Set of Machine Screws

222 s Set of Machine Screws

230 Mounting Block

240 r Right Side Stanchion

240 s Left Side Stanchion

250 r Right Side Knob or Right Side Interface Device

250 s Left Side Knob or Right Side Interface Device

260 r Right Side Worm Screw

260 s Left Side Worm Screw

261 Proximal End of Worm Screw

262 Distal End of Worm Screw

269 Threaded Bore in Proximal End of Worm Screw

270 E-Clip

281 Bearings

285 Spacer

x Longitudinal Direction

y Lateral Direction

z Transverse Direction

Construction

Friction sheet feeding machines 10 generally include a frame 20, a trayassembly (not shown), a gating assembly (not shown) and a drive assembly30. The machines 10 are capable of serially feeding individual sheets(not shown) in a longitudinal direction x from the bottom (unnumbered)of a generally vertical stack of sheets (not shown) retained within thetray assembly (not shown).

A typical configuration of the frame 20 is a generally rectangular frame20 having (i) a generally horizontal base plate (not shown), (ii) aright side panel 21 r extending upward from the base plate (not shown)and defining a right side 10 r of the machine 10, (iii) a left sidepanel 21 s also extending upward from the base plate (not shown) anddefining a left side 10 s of the machine 10, (iv) a rear end plate (notshown) extending upward from the base plate (not shown) and laterallyinterconnecting the side panels 21 r and 21 s, (v) at least one lateralcross member (not shown) transversely spaced above the base plate (notshown) and interconnecting the side panels 21 r and 21 s for supportingthe gating assembly (not shown), and (vi) a plurality of laterallyextending support rods 26 extending between and interconnecting the sidepanels 21 r and 21 s. Other frame configurations may also be employed,such as a cross-beam construction rather than the plate constructionshown in FIG. 1. Exemplary frames 20 suitable for use are shown anddescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,991,831, 5,143,365, 5,244,198, 5,642,877,5,772,199 and 6,932,338.

The tray assembly (not shown) is effective for holding a stack ofindividual sheets (not shown) in a substantially vertical position witha slight biasing of at least the lower portion (unnumbered) of the stack(not shown) towards the gating assembly (not shown) and the driveassembly 30.

One means for achieving the desired biasing of the stack (not shown), isto incline the floor (not shown) of the tray assembly (not shown)towards the gating assembly (not shown) and the drive assembly 30. Othermeans are known and may also be employed, such as a transverselyextending strip (not shown) positioned within the tray assembly (notshown) for supporting the trailing edges (not shown) of the sheets (notshown) in the stack (not shown) wherein the lower portion (unnumbered)of the support strip (not shown) is curved towards the gating assembly(not shown) and the drive assembly 30. Suitable tray types, styles andconfigurations are shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,991,831,5,143,365, 5,244,198, 5,642,877, 5,772,199 and 6,932,338.

A typical gating assembly (not shown) includes a friction retard roller(not shown) driven by an auxiliary electric motor (not shown) forcontacting the upward facing major surface (not shown) of sheets (notshown) as they approach the friction feed belts 60 for assisting inseparation of a lowermost sheet (not shown) from the immediatelyoverlying sheet (not shown) to prevent the simultaneous feeding ofmultiple sheets (not shown). Typical gating assemblies are shown anddescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,991,831, 5,143,365, 5,244,198, 5,642,877,5,772,199 and 6,932,338.

Generally, the drive assembly 30 includes a primary drive motor (notshown) and a friction feed roller 50 driven by the primary drive motor(not shown). The friction feed roller 50 drives friction feed belts 60which contact the sheets (not shown).

The drive assembly 30 on friction sheet feeding machines 10 typicallyincludes a conveyor system (not shown) downstream from the friction feedbelts 60 for receiving individual sheets (not shown) fed from the sheetstack (not shown) by the friction feed belts 60 and conveying the fedsheets (not shown) to the desired location, typically a conveyor belt(not shown) timed to receive and collate sheets (not shown) fed fromseveral aligned friction sheet feeding machines 10.

Referring generally to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a suitable driveassembly 30 includes a primary drive motor (not shown), and a pluralityof longitudinally x aligned laterally y spaced friction feed belts 60 i,60 r and 60 s, each mounted onto a driven friction feed roller 50 and anidler roller (not shown) longitudinally x spaced from the friction feedroller 50. The friction feed roller 50 is rotatably attached to the sidepanels 21 r and 21 s. Similarly, the idler roller (not shown) extendparallel with the friction feed roller 50 and is rotatably attached tothe side panels 21 r and 21 s. The friction feed roller 50 is driven bythe primary drive motor (not shown) via drive belt 40.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, the friction sheet feeding machine10 is provided with a lateral spacing adjustment mechanism 200 forpermitting selective lateral y repositioning of one or more feed belts60. The specific embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 permits selectiveand independent lateral y repositioning of the outside feed belts 60 rand 60 s.

The lateral y position of each of the feed belts 60 is controlled by aposition control carriage 210 (i.e., the lateral y position of theintermediate feed belt 60 i is controlled by an intermediate carriage210 i, the lateral y position of the right outside feed belt 60 r iscontrolled by a right carriage 210 r and the lateral y position of theleft outside feed belt 60 s is controlled by a left carriage 210 s).Each carriage 210 has a pair of transversely z extending and laterally yspaced guide pins 211 carrying a rotatable sleeve 212. The guide pins211 project upward from the position control carriage 210 foraccommodating passage of the return portion (unnumbered) of a respectivefeed belt 33 therebetween. When a sleeve 212 is moved into engagementwith a side edge (unnumbered) of a feed belt 60, the feed belt 60 is“pushed” away from the guide pin 211 and thereby laterally yrepositioned along the length of the friction feed roller 50 and theidler roller (not shown).

Each position control carriage 210 has a laterally extending channel 219along the bottom (unnumbered) of the carriage 210 for slidably engaginga laterally y extending guide bar 220. The guide bar 220 extends betweenthe side panels 21 r and 21 s and is mounted to the frame 20 viamounting blocks 230.

The intermediate carriage 210 i is rigidly attached to the guide bar 220by machine screw 221, thereby preventing lateral y sliding of theintermediate control carriage 210 i along the guide bar 220.

The repositionable carriages 210 r and 210 s each have a lateral bore218 extending completely through the carriage 210 r and 210 s. A rightworm screw 260 r extends completely through the lateral bore 218 r inthe right carriage 210 r and a left worm gear 260 s extends completelythrough the lateral bore 218 s in the left carriage 210 s. The wormscrews 260 r and 260 s are spirally threaded for cooperatively engaginga follower pin 215 extending into the lateral bore 218 in each of therepositionable carriages 210 r and 210 s, whereby rotation of the wormscrew 260 r and 260 s causes the repositionable carriage 210 r and 210 sto travel along the length of the rotated worm screw 260 r and 260 s,respectively.

The distal ends 262 of the worm screws 260 r and 260 s are rotatablysupported within a lateral bore 218 i in the intermediate carriage 210i.

A threaded bore 269 is provided in the proximal ends 261 of each wormscrew 260 r and 260 s for attachment of a corresponding knob 250 r and250 s, for effecting independent manual rotation of the worm screws 260r and 260 s by rotation of the corresponding knob 250 r and 250 s. Theknobs 250 r and 250 s are rotatably supported by stanchions 240 r and240 s mounted proximate the lateral y ends 220 r and 220 s of the guidebar 220 by machine screws 222 r and 222 s respectively.

Bearings 281 are preferably provided at each end (unnumbered) of eachbore 219 through each carriage 210 to facilitate rotation of the wormscrews 260 r and 260 s relative to the carriages 210.

An e-clip 270 can be provided on each worm screw 260 r and 260 sproximate the distal end 262 of the worm screw 260 r and 260 s forserving as a stop to continued inward travel of the repositionablecarriages 210 r and 210 s along the length of the corresponding wormscrew 260 r and 260 s. Other mechanical stops are well known to those ofroutine skill in the art and may be substituted for the e-clip stop 270shown and described.

Use

The friction sheet feeding machine 10 of the present invention is usedto feed individual sheets (not shown) from the bottom (not shown) of anessentially vertical stack of sheets (not shown) by loading a stack ofsheets (not shown) onto the tray (not shown) of the machine 10, and (ii)rotating the right knob 250 r as necessary and appropriate to move theright carriage 210 r and thereby the right side feed belt 60 r so thatthe right side feed belt 60 r contacts the sheets (not shown) fed fromthe machine 10 along a right side margin (not shown) of the sheet (notshown), and (ii) rotating the left knob 250 s as necessary andappropriate to move the left carriage 210 s and thereby the left sidefeed belt 60 s so that the left side feed belt 60 s contacts the sheets(not shown) fed from the machine 10 along a left side margin (not shown)of the sheet (not shown). The repositionable carriages 210 r and 210 scan be repositioned before or during use of the machine 10 to feedsheets (not shown). Since the knobs 250 r and 250 s are located on theoutside of the panels 21 r and 21 s respectively, and only interact withthe drive assembly 30 via contact between the rotatable sleeves 212 onthe adjustable carriages 210 r and 210 s and the outside feed belts 60 rand 60 s, a user may safely interface with the knobs 250 r and 250 s andrepositioned the outside feed belts 60 r and 60 s even while the machine10 is operating.

1. A friction sheet feeding machine for feeding individual sheets from a stack of sheets in a longitudinal direction, comprising: (a) a plurality of laterally spaced feed belts for feeding individual sheets from a stack of sheets in a longitudinal direction, and (b) an adjustment mechanism for permitting selective lateral repositioning of at least one of the feed belts relative to at least one other feed belt.
 2. The friction sheet feeding machine of claim 1 wherein the machine further includes a position-control carriage in operable association with each feed belt for controlling lateral positioning of the associated feed belt, and the adjustment mechanism effects lateral repositioning of a given feed belt by laterally repositioning the position-control carriage associated with the given feed belt.
 3. The friction sheet feeding machine of claim 1 wherein (i) the machine defines a right side and a left side, (ii) the machine includes at least three feed belts so as to define an outside feed belt on each side of the machine and at least one intermediate feed belt between the outside feed belts, and (iii) the adjustment mechanism is effective for laterally repositioning at least the outside feed belts.
 4. The friction sheet feeding machine of claim 2 wherein (i) the machine defines a right side and a left side, (ii) the machine includes at least three feed belts so as to define an outside feed belt on each side of the machine and at least one intermediate feed belt between the outside feed belts, and (iii) the adjustment mechanism is effective for laterally repositioning at least the outside feed belts.
 5. The friction sheet feeding machine of claim 3 wherein the outside feed belts are independently repositionable.
 6. The friction sheet feeding machine of claim 4 wherein the outside feed belts are independently repositionable.
 7. The friction sheet feeding machine of claim 1 wherein the machine defines a right side and a left side and further includes (i) panels on the right and left sides of the machine preventing side access to the feed belts, and (ii) at least one interface device located on the outside of a panel for effecting actuation of the adjustment mechanism.
 8. The friction sheet feeding machine of claim 2 wherein the machine defines a right side and a left side and further includes (i) panels on the right and left sides of the machine preventing side access to the feed belts and position-control carriages, and (ii) at least one interface device located on the outside of a panel for effecting actuation of the adjustment mechanism.
 9. The friction sheet feeding machine of claim 7 wherein the interface device is a manually rotatable knob.
 10. The friction sheet feeding machine of claim 6 wherein the machine defines a right side and a left side and further includes (i) panels on the right and left sides of the machine preventing side access to the feed belts and position-control carriages, and (ii) a first interface device located on the outside of the right side panel for effecting actuation of the adjustment mechanism to laterally reposition the outside feed belt on the right side, and (iii) a second interface device located on the outside of the left side panel for effecting actuation of the adjustment mechanism to laterally reposition the outside feed belt on the left side.
 11. A method of laterally repositioning at least one feed belt on a friction sheet feeding machine having a feed belt system for adjusting the effective width of the feed belt system, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a friction sheet feeding machine for feeding individual sheets from a stack of sheets in a longitudinal direction, comprising: (i) a feed belt system including a plurality of laterally spaced feed belts for feeding individual sheets from a stack of sheets in a longitudinal direction, and (ii) an adjustment mechanism for permitting selective lateral repositioning of at least one of the feed belts relative to at least one other feed belt, and (b) actuating the adjustment mechanism to laterally reposition at least one of the feed belts relative to at least one other feed belt.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the adjustment mechanism is actuated while the feed belts are being driven in the longitudinal direction.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the machine further includes a position-control carriage in operable association with each feed belt for controlling lateral positioning of the associated feed belt, and the adjustment mechanism effects lateral repositioning of a given feed belt by laterally repositioning the position-control carriage associated with the given feed belt.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein (i) the machine defines a right side and a left side, (ii) the machine includes at least three feed belts so as to define an outside feed belt on each side of the machine and at least one intermediate feed belt between the outside feed belts, and (iii) the adjustment mechanism is effective for laterally repositioning at least the outside feed belts.
 15. The method of claim 11 wherein the machine defines a right side and a left side and further includes (i) panels on the right and left sides of the machine preventing side access to the feed belts, and (ii) at least one interface device located on the outside of a panel for effecting actuation of the adjustment mechanism.
 16. A method of laterally repositioning at least one feed belt on a friction sheet feeding machine having a feed belt system for adjusting the effective width of the feed belt system, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a friction sheet feeding machine for feeding individual sheets from a stack of sheets in a longitudinal direction, comprising: (i) a feed belt system including a plurality of laterally spaced feed belts for feeding individual sheets from a stack of sheets in a longitudinal direction, and (ii) an adjustment mechanism for permitting selective lateral repositioning of at least one of the feed belts relative to at least one other feed belt, (b) loading a stack of sheets onto the machine, (c) operating the machine to feed individual sheets from the stack of sheets loaded onto the machine, and (d) actuating the adjustment mechanism to laterally reposition at least one of the feed belts relative to at least one other feed belt while the machine is operating.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the machine further includes a position-control carriage in operable association with each feed belt for controlling lateral positioning of the associated feed belt, and the adjustment mechanism effects lateral repositioning of a given feed belt by laterally repositioning the position-control carriage associated with the given feed belt.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein (i) the machine defines a right side and a left side, (ii) the machine includes at least three feed belts so as to define an outside feed belt on each side of the machine and at least one intermediate feed belt between the outside feed belts, and (iii) the adjustment mechanism is effective for laterally repositioning at least the outside feed belts.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the machine defines a right side and a left side and further includes (i) panels on the right and left sides of the machine preventing side access to the feed belts, and (ii) at least one interface device located on the outside of a panel for effecting actuation of the adjustment mechanism. 